Do you have any worn-out furniture in your home that might need a facelift?

We encourage you to try your hand at upcycling. Upcycling is one of the simplest and most effective methods to revitalise furniture. And, no, you don’t have to be a DIY pro to participate.

During the several lockdowns of the pandemic, Vinny Byrne Ltd. saw a major rise in interest in our Home and Hobby products, and more and more of our customers came to us with queries on

how to use these products to help renew certain pieces of furniture around their homes.

A lot of people don’t understand the benefits of upcycling furniture around your home, but here are some of the reasons why we, at Vinny Byrne Ltd. think you should start today:

-It’s beneficial to the environment: Manufacturing new pieces of furniture burns a harmful amount of fossil fuels which is damaging not only to the environment but also to our health.

-The finished product is one-of-a-kind: Purchasing furniture from a retailer implies that others will have the same thing as you. The beauty of upcycling is that no one else will have the same furniture as you. It produces a one-of-a-kind end product and is a fantastic way to add something unusual and unique to your house.

-You save money: Buying new furniture can be very costly, especially when you’re working within a budget. You can convert the desired piece of furniture in an hour or less (depending on size) and save money you would have spent on new pieces. It can be an overwhelming and daunting experience upcycling furniture, particularly when you hold that piece close to your heart.

At Vinny Byrne Ltd. we can help guide you on exactly what to do and what to use. If you don’t have the time to talk to us in-store or over the phone, here’s a small step-to-step guide on what to do (3 P’s):

• Prep:
• -Start by giving the piece of furniture a good, deep clean. Remove any knobs or handles.
• -Sand the surface to smooth it out, wipe any dust created and check for imperfections and fill any scratches or holes with filler and allow to dry to give the paint something to adhere to

• Prime:

• -Fulfil this step to ensure the paint lasts as long as possible.
• -Apply the primer using a small paintbrush or roller.
• -Use a thin layer, to begin with, allow it to dry, and if necessary,
• apply one more coat.
• -Remember to sand it lightly between coats and use a tack cloth or white spirit to remove all the dust created from sanding.

• Paint:
• -Allow drying after applying a light coat of paint.
• -After the first layer has dried, inspect the surface and sand down any uneven areas before applying the second coat.
• -There are different materials used for furniture manufacturing (wood, plywood, plastic, stainless steel…), and as such, a different paint must be used when considering an upcycle project.

We would advise you to contact one of our paint specialists. Check our website, where you can find very helpful videos.